Babylonian Empire

Babylonian Empire

Asarah B’Tevet

עשרה בטבת‎

Fast of the tenth of Tevet

Hebrew Calendar Date: 10th of Tevet

Torah Reference: References to the fast and the siege can be found in Tanach’s Ezekiel 24:1-24:2 and Jeremiah 52:4-52:6.

When it began:

The fast commemorates the siege of Jerusalem, begun by Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian king on the 10th of Tevet in the 9th year of King Zedekiah’s reign, 588 BCE. A year and a half later, on the 17th of Tammuz in the eleventh year of Zedekiah's reign, 586 BCE (Jeremiah 52.6–7), he broke through the city walls. The siege ended with the destruction of the Temple three weeks later, on the 9th of Av, the end of the first Kingdoms and the exile of the Jewish people to Babylon. The Tenth of Tevet is thus considered part of the cycle of fasts connected with these events, which includes: Shiva Asar B'Tammuz (17th of Tammuz) and Tisha B'Av (9th of Av).

How it’s observed today:

It is one of the minor fasts observed from before dawn to nightfall, with additional prayers added into the service.